🎮 Minesweeper

A modern, feature-rich implementation of the classic Minesweeper game, available in Windows Forms, Linux GTK, and Terminal versions.

📦 Versions

Windows Forms Version

A polished, graphical implementation built with Windows Forms and C++, featuring a modern user interface.

Linux GTK Version

A polished, graphical implementation built with GTK and C++, featuring a modern user interface.

Terminal Version

A classic, ncurses-based implementation perfect for terminal environments and systems without graphical interfaces.

✨ Common Features

All versions include:

• Four difficulty levels:
• Easy (9x9 grid, 10 mines)
• Medium (16x16 grid, 40 mines)
• Hard (16x30 grid, 99 mines)
• Custom board size with custom number of mines
• High score system with persistent storage
• Separate leaderboards for each difficulty
• Top 10 times per difficulty level
• Scores saved in platform-appropriate location:
  • Windows: %APPDATA%.minesweeper\scores.txt
  • Unix: ~/.minesweeper/scores.txt
• Color-coded numbers for adjacent mine counts
• Game timer with MM:SS format display
• First-click protection (never hit a mine on first move)
• Quick-reveal for completed number tiles

🎯 Controls

Windows Forms Version

Mouse Controls:

• Left Click: Reveal cell
• Right Click: Flag/unflag cell
• Left Click on Number: Quick-reveal adjacent cells (if correct number of flags placed)

Keyboard Shortcuts:

• N: Start new game
• F1: Switch to Easy difficulty
• F2: Switch to Medium difficulty
• F3: Switch to Hard difficulty
• Ctrl+H: View high scores

GTK Version

Mouse Controls:

• Left Click: Reveal cell
• Right Click: Flag/unflag cell
• Left Click on Number: Quick-reveal adjacent cells (if correct number of flags placed)

Keyboard Shortcuts:

• CTRL+N: Start new game
• CTRL+1: Switch to Easy difficulty
• CTRL+2: Switch to Medium difficulty
• CTRL+3: Switch to Hard difficulty
• Ctrl+H: View high scores
• Ctrl+Q: Quit
• Ctrl+R: Reset Game

Terminal Version

• Arrow Keys: Move cursor
• Space: Reveal cell
• F: Flag/unflag cell
• H: Show/hide help menu
• K: View high scores
• N: Start new game
• R: Restart current game
• C: Clear screen (removes artifacts)
• Q: Quit game

🎨 Display Features

Windows/GTK Forms Version

• Clean, modern interface
• Status bar showing game state and timer
• Intuitive menu system
• Custom icons for mines and flags
• Responsive grid that adjusts to window size
• Color-coded numbers:
• Blue for 1
• Green for 2
• Red for 3
• Dark Blue for 4
• Dark Red for 5
• Dark Gray for higher numbers

Terminal Version

• Bold, colored numbers (1-8)
• High contrast mine and flag symbols
• Reverse highlighting for cursor position
• Clean, intuitive UI with status messages
• Animated title banner
• Current seed display (for sharing/replaying)

🛠️ Building

Windows Forms Version

Requirements:

• Windows operating system
• .NET Framework 4.5 or higher
• 64-bit processor
• Minimum 2GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 800x600 or higher

cd windows
msbuild /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64 minesweeper.vcxproj

GTK Version

Requirements:

• Linux operating system
• G++
• gtk3-development libraries (gtk3-devel on Fedora)
• Minimum 2GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 800x600 or higher

# Compile and run GTK version
cd gtk
make
cd build/linux
./minesweeper

Windows GTK Version

Requirements:

• Linux operating system (to compile)
• G++
• 64-bit processor
• Minimum 2GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 800x600 or higher
• MINGW and GTK3-development (mingw-gtk3 on Fedora)

# Compile and run GTK version
cd gtk
make windows
cd build
mv windows minesweeper_gtk
zip minesweeper_gtk.zip minesweeper_gtk -r

# Copy ZIP file to windows and decompress
On windows run minesweeper_gtk.exe

Terminal Version

Requirements:

• C++ compiler with C++11 support
• ncurses library

# Compile and run Terminal version
cd CLI
make
./minesweeper

🎲 Gameplay Tips

1. The first click is always safe - use it strategically!
2. Numbers indicate how many mines are in the adjacent cells
3. Flag suspected mines to keep track
4. Use quick-reveal on numbers when you've flagged all nearby mines
5. Try to beat your best times - they're saved per difficulty level

🔄 Game States

All versions support:

• Active gameplay
• Game over (mine revealed)
• Victory (all non-mine cells revealed)
• High score entry
• High score display

The Terminal version also includes:

• Menu (difficulty selection)
• Help screen

🎥 Terminal Version Preview

MINESWEEPER                  Time: 01:23
1 1 1
1 * 1    # = Hidden cell
1 1 1    F = Flag

         * = Mine

📝 License

All versions are licensed under MIT; see LICENSE.md.

✉️ Contact Author

Created by Jason Brian Hall (jasonbrianhall@gmail.com)